Buddhist Quotes

Meditation is not just blissing out under a mango tree. It completely changes your brain and therefore changes what you are.

A wise man, recognizing that the world is but an illusion, does not act as if it is real, so he escapes the suffering.

You can only lose what you cling to.

Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.

Within this moment, the only moment that exists, the past, present and future are contained.

If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

Ennui has made more gamblers than avarice, more drunkards than thirst, and perhaps as many suicides as despair.

The person who masters himself through self-control and discipline is truly undefeatable.

The goal of Buddhism is to create Buddhas, not Buddhists, as the goal of Christianity is to create Christs, not Christians.

By your own efforts waken yourself, watch yourself. And live joyfully.

He who, seeking his own happiness, punishes or kills beings who also long for happiness, will not find happiness after his death.

Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.

'I've got children', 'I've got wealth.' This is the way a fool brings suffering on himself. He does not even own himself, so how can he have children or wealth?

In the Father's house we shall meet Buddhists and Jews, Muslims and Protestants.

Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.

O snail Climb Mount Fuji But slowly, slowly!

Ju jitsu is very Buddhist. All that we fear we hold close to ourselves to survive. So if you're drowning and you see a corpse floating by, hang on to it because it will rescue you.

By not knowing, not hoping to know and not acting like we know what's happening, we begin to access our inner strength.

In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

Delight in meditation and solitude. Compose yourself, be happy. You are a seeker.

There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant.

Whatever the hateful do to the hateful, or an enemy to an enemy, worse is the harm of a misguided mind directed at oneself.

Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.

If you don't see God in the next person you meet, look no further.

From craving arises sorrow, from craving arises fear, but he who is freed from craving has no sorrow and certainly no fear.

Samsara is the mind turned outwardly, lost in its projections. Nirvana is the mind turned inwardly, recognizing its true nature.

He who walks in the company of fools suffers much. Company with fools, as with an enemy, is always painful. Company with the wise is pleasure, like meeting with kinfolk.

Attention leads to immortality. Carelessness leads to death. Those who pay attention will not die, while the careless are as good as dead already.

Conquer anger by love, evil by good; Conquer the miser with liberality, and the liar with truth.

Concentrate the mind on the present moment.

If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart.

Dharma is not upheld by talking about it. Dharma is upheld by living in harmony with it.

When we feel happy and peaceful, our happiness and peace radiates around us, and others can enjoy it as well. This is called 'the enjoyment of others of our body of bliss'.

It is our very search for perfection outside of ourselves that causes suffering.

One who is wise and disciplined, always kind and intelligent, humble and free from pride. One like this will be praised.

Buddha was not a Christian, but Jesus would have made a good Buddhist.

How does one practice mindfulness? Sit in meditation. Be aware of only your breath.

Here in this body are the sacred rivers, here are the sun and moon, as well as the pilgrimage places. I have not encountered another temple as blissful as my own body

How easy it is to see your brother's faults, How hard it is to face your own.

Oh son, watch the illusory spectacle! All birth and death is projected by delusion, not existing in reality. I am beyond coming and going.

Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everythiong else.

My actions are my only true belongings.

Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind.

Don't hang on to your failures, because you can always try again. Trying gives hope. Hope gives us life.

Like a lovely flower full of color but lacking in fragrance, are the words of those who do not practice what they teach.

Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.

Harmonizing opposites by going back to their source is the distinctive quality of the Zen attitude, the Middle Way: embracing contradictions, making a synthesis of them, achieving balance.

To say one is revolutionary is a little like saying one is a Zen Buddhist - if you say you are, you probably aren't.

The wind cannot overturn a mountain. Temptation cannot touch the man Who is awake, strong and humble, Who masters hiself and minds the law.

I grew up in a mostly Buddhist environment.